Selita Ebanks

occupation = partner = years_active = 2001–2012

Selita Ebanks (born 17 February 1983) is a Caymanian model. She was a Victoria's Secret Angel from 2005 to 2010. She has also worked for high fashion brands Neiman Marcus and Ralph Lauren, and appeared in magazines such as the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, Vogue, and Glamour.

Early life Born to a Jamaican father and a Caymanian mother in George Town, Grand Cayman, Ebanks was raised in a large family that included seven brothers. Her family, her mother in particular, encouraged her development through extracurricular programs. She moved to the United States and settled in Staten Island, where she graduated from Curtis High School. She was accepted to attend undergraduate studies at Columbia University and New York University, but instead chose to pursue modeling. at the age of 17,

Career Modelling Ebanks is widely recognized as one of the most prominent Black supermodels of her generation, known for her groundbreaking career in high-fashion and her role as a trailblazer for diversity in the fashion industry. Ebanks made her debut in February 2001 at the fall show for Tuleh, and has walked the runway for designers including Betsey Johnson, Catherine Malandrino, Pamella Roland and Tommy Hilfiger. She has appeared in campaigns for Abercrombie & Fitch, Tommy Hilfiger and DKNY, and signed a contract with Victoria's Secret in 2005. She and Izabel Goulart made their major débuts in the 2005 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show,

In 2007, Ebanks was selected to wear the "Very Sexy" Holiday Fantasy Bra Set with a price tag of $4,500,000 that contains diamonds, emeralds, rubies and yellow sapphires—which she wore in the Victoria's Secret "Christmas Dreams and Fantasies 2007" catalogue. She also wore the fantasy bra set during the Victoria's Secret fashion show on 4 December 2007.

Ebanks made a special guest appearance on How I Met Your Mother (episode: "The Yips") on 26 November 2007 with her fellow Victoria's Secret supermodels (Miranda Kerr, Heidi Klum, Adriana Lima, Marisa Miller, and Alessandra Ambrosio).

According to Forbes, Ebanks was the twelfth highest paid model of 2008, earning an estimated $2.7 million.

Ebanks has graced the covers of Maxim, British GQ and Russian FHM and appeared in editorials for Marie Claire, Glamour, V, German and Italian Elle, Vanidades and Sports Illustrated'''s 2007 Swimsuit Issue. Previously, she recorded music as well as Kanye West's 2010 short film Runaway, playing a fallen phoenix with whom West's character falls in love. She is a recurring character in BET's Real Husbands of Hollywood, where she plays the love interest of comedian Kevin Hart. Ebanks also appeared in a commercial for State Farm Insurance alongside actor and model Mehcad Brooks.

Ebanks also has her own line of swimwear, accessories and shoes called Sass which stands for Selita's Accessories Shoes and Swimwear. The line was seen on the BET Rip the Runway 2012 which she hosted alongside Pooch Hall.

Ebanks was cast in the Freeform (formerly ABC Family) TV series Nicki, based on the life of Nicki Minaj, alongside Ariana Neal, Wesley Jonathan and McCarrie McCausland. Whoopi Goldberg and J. B. Smoove were announced as guest stars. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the series was cancelled by Freeform. Ebanks was to play Grace, Nicki's mother. Production began in January 2016. In October 2016, Minaj stated that filming had been postponed.

Ebanks was in MTV's Champs vs. Stars'' in 2018.

Personal life

Ebanks was engaged to comedian Nick Cannon for five months.

She dated Terrence J from 2011 to 2013.

Philanthropy

Ebanks has run her own talent school, "Stardom Youth Foundation" since 2004 and 2014, raising more than $1 million for women and children all over the world.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 2007 How I Met Your Mother Herself 2010 The Apprentice (U.S. season 9) Herself 5 episodes 2010 Runaway (2010 film) Phoenix 2011 Hawaii Five-0 Lisa Cole 1 episode 2013 Real Husbands of Hollywood Herself 7 episodes 2014 Catfish: The TV Show Herself 1 episode 2017 Hip Hop Squares Herself 2 episodes 2017 Uncorked Herself 2018 The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars (season 3) Herself 2024 Grand Cayman: Secrets In Paradise Herself